Cushioned control valve for nozzles



April 1958v F. D. MAHONEY CUSHIONED CONTROL VALVE FOR NOZZLES Filed Sept. 6, 1955 INVENTOR. FRANK 0. MAHO/VE Y ATTORNEY lUnited States Patent lice CUSHIONED CONTROL VALVE FOR NOZZLES Frank D. Mahoney, Woodside, Calif. Application September 6, 1955, Serial No. 532,513

4 Claims. (Cl. 251- 50) This invention relates to improvements in control valves of the type used in fueling nozzles.

In fueling systems of the type used at air fields in transferring gasoline to the fuel tanks of airplanes of the transcontinental type exceptionally high head pressures are employed to shorten the fueling operation. In systems of this kind, it is desirable that the flow of gasoline through the fueling nozzle is not abruptly discontinued; otherwise resulting back pressures are apt to damage the fueling system and bring about a leaking condition, thereby creating a fire hazard. It is desirable to employ a fueling nozzle having valve means which will not abruptly shut off the gasoline flow. Fueling nozzles of the type now in use are not entirely satisfactory, particularly because they are not equipped with valves which function automatically to effect their gradual closing.

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies in nozzles used in high pressure fueling systems by providing novel valve means which operates automatically to effect its gradual closing, thereby avoiding damaging back pressures.

The object and general nature of this invention is to provide an improvedvalve for fueling nozzles or high pressure lines, embodying automatic means which functions through the entrapment of incoming liquid to retard the complete closing of the valve sufiiciently to prevent the producing of back pressures.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter or will be indicated in the appended claims, or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of a control valve representative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for purposes of illustration only, and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view taken centrally through a nozzle having my improved control valve embodied therein, showing the valve in a closed position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the valve in an open position.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a suitably shaped casing having a liquid inlet 2 and an outlet 3. The inlet 2 is connected to a source of liquid fuel or other fluid under a suitable high head pressure, and the outlet 3 is preferably provided with a fixed tubular fitting 4 equipped with an extension 5 and a strainer 6. Secured to the tubular fitting 4 as by spaced radial web members 7 is a stationary lower valve element 8 which is positioned in the casing between the inlet and the outlet. The lower valve element 8 is concentrically arranged in the casing 1 in spaced relation thereto, and an annular fluid passage or channel 9 is thereby provided for the flow of liquid from the inlet 2 to the outlet. Secured as by screws to the lower valve element 8 is an upper valve element 10, hav- Patented Apr. 15, 1958 ing an axial opening 11 within which a cylindrical plunger 12 is adapted to move with reciprocating motion. The plunger is sufiiciently smaller in diameter than the opening 11 to provide a fluid pasageway for the restricted flow of liquid from the inlet 2 into a small chamber 13 provided axially in the upper part of the lower valve member 8. The chamber 13 is connected by a small axially disposed orifice 14 to a central compartment 15 formed in the lower valve element 8, and the said compartment is connected by an inclined liquid channel or pasageway 16 to an annular groove 17 formed in the upper end of the lower valve element 8. The annular groove 17 is connected by a liquid channel or passageway 18 in the upper valve element 10 to the inlet 2 of the casing. It will be noted that liquid under pressure is adapted to flow from the inlet 2, through the opening 11, the chamber 13, the orifice 14, the compartment 15, the channel 16, the groove 17, and the passageway 18 back into that part of the casings interior which communicates with the inlet.

Adjustably mounted in a screw fitting 19 located in an axial tubular stem 8a on the lower valve element 8 is a needle valve 20 which extends into the orifice '14 and controls the flow of liquid from the chamber 13 into the compartment 15. A closing screw member 21 closes the lower end of the tubular stem 8a, and a screen 22 is positioned in the chamber 13 to avoid small foreign particles entering the orifice 14. Mounted in an annular groove in the upper end of the lower valve element 8 is a resilient sealing ring 23 which extends into the axial opening 11 and is arranged to receive and engage with the plunger 12 and prevent liquid from passing through the opening 11 when the plunger approaches its downward position. An annular sealing ring 24 supported on the upper end of the lower valve element 8 and arranged near the periphery of the latter is adapted to 'be engaged by the lower edge of a cylindrical or tubular valve member 25 secured as by radial web members 26 to the cylindrical plunger 12. The cylindrical valve member 25 is preferably circular in cross-section throughout its length and is adapted to reciprocate in unison with the plunger 12, and a sealing ring 27 lodged in an annular groove in the casing 1 engages with the valve member and prevents liquid from passing between the adjacent sides of the cas-- ing and the valve member. The cylindrical valve member 25 is tubular in construction, and liquid from the inlet 2 passes through the valve member, the annular channel 9 and the outlet 3 when the valve member is in an open position with its lower end disengaged from the annular sealing ring 24 as shown in Fig. 2. The sealing rings 23, 24 and 27 as well as other seals not specifically mentioned are preferably made from synthetic rubber or other suitable material which will not deteriorate when contacted by gasoline or other liquid fuel.

Secured axially to the cylindrical plunger 12 is an elongated connecting rod 28 which slidably extends through aligned bearings 29 and 30 supported on an upper supporting structure 31 secured to the casing 1. A hand operated lever 32, pivotally connected to the connecting rod 28 between the ends thereof as at 33 is arranged with one of its ends 34 in engagement with a fixed support 35 on the casing. A handle 36 secured to the casing is arranged in spaced relation above the lever 32. By pivotally actuating the hand engageable portion of the hand lever 32 upwardly, the connecting rod 28 and the valve member 25 are carried upwardly to open the valve and allow liquid to pass through the casing from its inlet 2 toits outlet 3. The how of the liquid through the casing is controlled by the valve member 25, and the extent of the latters movement in an upward direction is controlled by the hand lever 32.. A spiral tension spring 37 held under tension between the lower bearing 29 and the cylindrical plunger 12 returns the valve element 11 downwardly to effect the closing of the-valve when the hand pressure in the opposite direction on the hand lever 32 is discontinued. The connecting rod 28 extends through a packing gland'38 which is' secured in place by a screw cap 39, the said packing gland being intended to prevent the escape of liquid through the bearing 29. A buffer ring 40, made from rubber tubing, is mounted in an encircling position on the casing.

When the hand lever 32 is actuated to move the connecting rod 28 upwardly, the cylindrical plunger 12 and the-valve member 25 are also carried upwardly, thereby unscating the valve element 25 and allowing liquid to flow-through the casing. When the continued upward movement has carried the plunger'12 above and out of engagement with the sealing ring 23, liquid passes through the opening 11, into-the chamber 13, through the orifice 14 and into the compartment 15, thereby filling them. Upon the release of the hand lever 32, the spring 37 returns the valve member 25 and the plunger 12 in a downward direction, thereby bringing the plunger into sealing engagement with the sealing ring 23. The sealing rings 23 and 24 are-so relatively positioned with respect to one another and to plunger 12 and the valve member 25 that the plunger in its downward movement will have engaged with the sealing ring 23 prior to the engagement of the valve member with its associated sealing ring 24. The length of that part of the plunger 12 which is engaged by the sealing ring 23 is substantially less than the length of the stroke or" the valve member 25, thereby making it possible for the sealing ring to receive and engage with the plunger before the valve member engages with the stationary valve element 10. In other words the valve will still be open to allow a restricted flow of liquid through the casing at the time the plunger 12 first engages with the sealing ring 23. With the engagement of the plunger with the sealing ring 23, liquid cannot proceed either upwardly or downwardly through the opening 11, and as a result the liquid then in the chambers 13 and is trapped to the extent that it can only escape through the inclined channel 16, the annular groove 17 and the channel 18. The entrapped liquid thus slowly returns to that portion of the casing located above the upper valve element 10. As the plunger continues to move downwardly after its engagement with the sealing ring 23, the entrapped liquid, being able to flow at a very reduced rate through the restricted channels and orifice, acts to retard the downward movement of the plunger and the valve member, thereby causing the valve member to slowly and gently seat against the sealing ring 24 and thereby discontinue the flow of liquid through the casing. The abrupt closing of the valve is thereby avoided. By adjusting the needle valve upwardly, the flow of liquid through the orifice 14 is restricted, thereby further retarding the closing of the valve member 25, and conversely, by adjusting the needle valve downwardly to allow a faster flow of liquid through the orifice, the closing of the valve member is accelerated. While upper and lower valve elements are shown as the two parts of a fixed valve element, it is to be understood that an integral one-piece valve element may also be embodied in my invention.

What 1' claim is:

1. In a control valve, a casing having an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at its lower end, a stationary valve element mounted in the casing in spaced relation thereto, the casing having a liquid passageway between its sides and the stationary valve element connecting the inlet and the outlet, the stationary valve element having an axial opening in its upper side in communication at its upper end with the inlet and also having a lower chamber connected by a restricted orifice to the lower end of the axial opening, the lower chamber also being in communication by a restricted liquid passageway with the inlet, a combined cylindrical valve member and plunger mounted for up and down reciprocating movement in the casing, the plunger being slidably positioned in the axial opening of the stationary valve element, the plunger being spaced from the sides of the axial opening to provide a liquid passageway communicating with the inlet at its upper end and with the chamber at its lower end, the valve member being in slidable engagement with the casing and when at the lower end of its reciprocating movement being adapted to engage with the stationary valve element and close the liquid passageway through the casing, a resilient sealing ring extending into the axial opening of the stationary valve element for sealing engagement with the plunger, the length of the plunger engaged by the sealing ring being substantially less than the stroke of the valve member, whereby the sealing ring receives and engages with the plunger when the plunger approaches the lower end of its reciprocating movement and before the valve member engages the stationary valve element, spring means urging the valve member and the plunger downwardly toward the stationary valve element, and means for actuating the valve member and the plunger upwardly.

2. In a control valve, a casing having an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at its lower end, a stationary valve element mounted in the casing in spaced relation thereto, the casing having an annular liquid passageway between its sides and the stationary valve element in communication with the inlet and the outlet, the stationary valve element having an axial opening in its upper side in communication at its upper end with the inlet and also having a lower chamber connected by a restricted orifice to the lower end of the axial opening, the lower chamber also being in communication with the inlet, a combined cylindrical valve member and plunger mounted for reciprocating up and down movement in the casing, the'plunger being axially arranged in the valve member and slidably positioned in the axial opening of the stationary valve element, the plunger being spaced from the sides of the axial opening to provide a liquid passageway communicating with the inlet at its upper end and with the orifice at its lower end, the valve member being in slidable engagement with the casing and adapted to engage with the stationary valve element and close the passageway through the casing when at the lower end of its reciprocating movement, a resilient sealing ring mounted on the stationary valve element and for sealing engagement with the plunger, the length of the plunger engaged by the sealing ring being substantially less than the stroke of the valve member, whereby the sealing ring receives and engages with the plunger when the plunger approaches the lower end of its reciprocating movement and before the valve member engages the stationary valve element, spring means urging the valve member and plunger downwardly, and means for actuating the valve member and plunger upwardly.

3. In a control valve, a casing having an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at its lower end, a stationary valve element mounted axially in the casing between the inlet and the outlet, an annular fluid passageway between the casing and the stationary valve element and communicating with the inlet and the outlet, the stationary valve element having an axial opening in its upper side communicating with the inlet and also having a lower chamber communicating with the lower end of the axial opening by means of a small orifice, the lower chamber also communicating with the inlet, a combined cylindrical valve member and plunger mounted for up and down reciprocating movement, the plunger being axially arranged in the valve member and slidably positioned in the axial opening of the stationary valve element, the plunger being spaced from the sides of the axial opening, whereby fluid may flow through the axial opening to the orifice and lower chamber from the inlet,

the valve member slidably engaging with the casing and arranged for closing relationship with the stationary valve element when positioned at the lower end of its reciprocating movement, a resilient sealing ring mounted on the stationary valve element and projecting into the axial opening for sealing engagement with the plunger, the length of the plunger engaged by the sealing ring being substantially less than the stroke of the valve member, whereby the sealing ring receives and engages with the plunger when the plunger approaches the lower end of its reciprocating movement and before the valve member engages with the stationary valve element, manually operated means for moving the valve member and the plunger downwardly.

4. In a control valve, a casing having an inlet at its upper end and an outlet at its lower end, a stationary valve element mounted in the casing between the inlet and the outlet, the casing having a fluid passageway between its sides and the stationary valve element in communication with the inlet and the outlet, the stationary valve element having an axial opening communicating at its upper end with the inlet and connected at its lower end to a restricted orifice also communicating with the inlet, a combined tubular valve member and plunger mounted for up and down reciprocating movement in the casing, the plunger being positioned internally of the tubular valve member and slidably positioned in the axial opening of the stationary valve element, the plunger being spaced from the sides of the axial opening to provide a liquid passageway communicating with the inlet at its upper end and with the restricted orifice at its lower end, the valve member being in close slidable engagement with the sides of the casing and adapted to engage with the stationary valve element and close the passageway through the casing when at the lower end of its reciprocating movement, and a resilient sealing ring mounted on the stationary valve element and extending into the axial opening of the valve element for sealing engagement with the plunger, the length of the plunger engaged by the sealing ring being substantially less than the stroke of the valve member whereby the sealing ring receives and engages with the plunger when such plunger approaches the lower extremity of its reciprocating movement and before the valve member engages with the stationary valve element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,906 Haughton Feb. 17, 1914 2,627,418 Ainsworth Feb. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 172,898 Germany July 13, 1906 12,748 Great Britain May 23, 1914 517,386 France Dec. 17, 1920 

